What are GCSEs and Alevels worth in the US?

Redo Gcses or carry on with A levels?

• Well I want to be a physics teacher or pharmacist, and currently I'm only doing 2 A-levels (Was ill for 1 and a half months so was dropped out of physics, chemistry and psychology), so the 2 Levels I'm doing are Biology and Re (Real strong points). But should I carry on my A levels for another 2 years so I'll be 19 when I start uni, or do I redo my Gcses to try and get an A or two? (Had migraine since year ten, but no longer suffering from them for about 3 months now since on medication) Since I was ill for a long time but still got ok results should I carry on my A levels or redo my Gcses? Well my Gcses results are: Science core B, additional/applied science c, maths, English language and literature c, I.t-Dida 4 passes(c's, which I'm really proud of as I barely attended any lessons do to illness), Btec sport Merits 2 (Bs), Pshe Pass (Equivalent to a b, don't know how but it is). So there is my Gcses and are they good Enough to get into Bradford (I heard they are really good)/Durham/Leeds for pharmacy, or Leeds/Manchester/Cardiff for Physics or Should I redo them? I know that in my English Lit and language I can get a B as I'm fond of it and In maths I can get An A hopefully as my Sister is at uni doing maths at Liverpool so she could help. Also my sciences which I did in a space of 4 months to get those grades I'm pretty decent at. But what I want is your opinion guys should I carry on with my A levels or should I redo my gcses, I don't really care if u go to uni when I'm 20 as I can socialize with lots of different people of all ages, backgrounds and cultures as most of my friends are of different races. Also many thanks in advance, also I'm very sorry for spelling or grammar mistakes ad I'm on my phone and its 1am and I have school tommorrow and u thought I would just do it now just incase I forget. If I am to carry on my A levels I will pick them up again.

• Answer:

  While those grades are not necessarily going to stop you becoming a science teacher or pharmacist, you generally need 3 A's at A-Level to get into Durham. Entry requirements for Manchester and Leeds are typically A's and B's at A-Level. Your GCSE results suggest that you are not going to get these grades, and in any case you are only taking two A-Levels so you will struggle to meet their standard offers. All of these Universities will have applicants with several A-stars at GCSE. I would consider looking at other Unis where the requirements are not so high, e.g. Teeside or De Montfort. As long as you got a good degree i.e 2:1 at these Universities, you could still reach your dreams.